Texas Senior Amateur Moves to Qualifying Process

The Texas Golf Association is pleased to announce it has elevated one of its most popular championships to an exciting, new level. Starting with this fall’s 86th Texas Senior Amateur, to be held Sept. 8-10 at Amarillo Country Club, there will now be a qualifying process to earn a spot in the 54-hole major championship for all except exempt players.

Registration for the four, single-day qualifiers for each region of the state opens at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 17. There is a qualifier available in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, West Texas, and Hill Country areas. Each 18-hole qualifier occurs on either Aug. 1 or Aug. 8. There also is a Last Chance Qualifier scheduled for Aug. 22 in McKinney.

For specific qualifying information for the 86th Texas Senior Amateur, click here. For more information on the September championship itself, click here.

“We spent the last few years collecting feedback and examining the results of the championship,” said John Cochran IV, the TGA’s Director of Championships for South Texas. “We determined a qualifying process will provide stronger fields for the Texas Senior Amateur, just as they have for the Texas Amateur and Texas Mid-Amateur.”

In addition to the qualifiers, the TGA also provided players with an expanded pathway into the championship through increased exemption categories, including the top players ranked in the World Amateur Golf Rankings® (WAGR).

The TGA looks forward to assembling one of the strongest fields ever for this year’s Texas Senior Amateur.

Don’t forget online registration for these new qualifiers opens May 17 at 9 a.m. Click here to get started.

85th Texas Senior Amateur Set for Sept. 9-11

Champions Golf Club in Houston will be the host site for the 85th Texas Senior Amateur, the third of this year’s four men’s major amateur championships conducted by the Texas Golf Association. The championship, which features the state’s top amateur golfers aged 55 and older, will be contested on the Jackrabbit Course from Sept. 9-11.

This will be the first Texas Senior and sixth overall TGA championship held at Champions. The 2016 Texas Shootout was the most recent TGA championship played at the historic club.

“We are incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to return to such a special place as Champions Golf Club,” said Justin Guthrie, TGA Tournament Director. “Champions has been a proud supporter of the game at all levels, and we look forward to working together with the members and staff to provide a truly memorable experience for the players.”

Champions Golf Club was founded in 1957 by World Golf Hall of Fame members Jack Burke Jr. and the late Jimmy Demaret. Located approximately 20 miles northwest of downtown Houston, Champions features 36 holes that weave through a rolling landscape of tall pine trees, creeks, and waterways. Designed by Ralph Plummer, the Cypress Creek Course opened in 1959, followed by the Jackrabbit Course designed by George Fazio, which opened in 1964. Tom Fazio, George’s nephew, supervised a renovation of the Jackrabbit Course in 2002. Chet Williams led a renovation of the Cypress Creek Course in 2018.

Over the years, Champions has acquired a well-earned reputation as one of the nation’s most esteemed tournament venues. The club has played host to five USGA championships in its 65-year history, including the 1969 U.S. Open, 1993 U.S. Amateur, 1998 and 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, and the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open. In addition, Champions has also been the site of many other prominent events, including the 1967 Ryder Cup, five PGA Tour Championships, the Houston Champions International (now the Houston Open) between 1966-71, the Southern Amateur in 1973 and 1980, as well as the annual Champions Cup Invitational.

“Champions has an illustrious golf history, and it is an honor for us to be a part of it,” Guthrie said. “The players are excited about getting the chance to showcase their skills on the renowned Jackrabbit Course, which is an outstanding test of golf and the ideal stage for what is sure to be a great championship.”

First played in 1937, the Texas Senior Amateur is open to male amateurs who have a WHS Handicap Index® of 6.4 or less, will have reached the age of 55 on or before the tournament start date, and are current Texas residents.

The format for the championship is 54 holes of individual stroke play. The starting field of 144 golfers play two rounds on Sept. 9-10. At the completion of the 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 54 scores and ties for the final round.

Defending champion Gary Durbin of Houston, who also is a longtime member of the host club, heads the list of the elite senior amateurs who will convene at Champions. Durbin captured his second Texas Senior Amateur last year with rounds of 71-70-75 at Westwood Golf Club in Houston. Durbin, who will look to be the first to win back-to-back titles in over 20 years, also won the 2019 championship at Deerwood Club in Kingwood.

Seven other past champions will join Durbin in the starting field, including John Derrick of Waco (who won in 2020), Lewis Stephenson of Mansfield (2016, ’18), Ed Brooks of Fort Worth (2017), Mike Booker of The Woodlands (2015), Mike Peck of Irving (2013), Chuck Palmer of Dallas (2012), and John Grace of Fort Worth (2010).

Live scoring updates and daily recaps, as well as tee times and pairings, will be available on the TGA website once the action gets underway from Champions Golf Club.

84th Texas Senior Amateur Set for Sept. 24-26

The state’s top amateur golfers aged 55 and older will gather at Westwood Golf Club in Houston from Sept. 24-26 for the 84th Texas Senior Amateur, the last of this year’s four men’s major amateur championships conducted by the Texas Golf Association.

This is the first TGA championship to be held at Westwood. The club was originally scheduled to host the 2020 South Regional Mid-Amateur, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to conduct this year’s Texas Senior Amateur at Westwood Golf Club,” said Justin Guthrie, TGA Tournament Manager. “We are grateful to the club for their continued commitment to amateur golf and know they will provide an amazing championship experience.”

Founded in 1928, Westwood Golf Club (formerly Westwood Country Club), is the second oldest private golf club in Houston on its original site. Noted Texas architect John Bredemus designed the club’s initial nine-hole layout, which opened for play in 1930. The course was expanded to 18 holes in 1957 under the supervision of Ralph Plummer, a former assistant to Bredemus. Keith Foster completed an extensive renovation and redesign in 2002, and in 2018 Kevin Hargrave oversaw continued enhancements to the golf course that included rebuilding and resurfacing all tees, greens and bunkers.

“We look forward to welcoming the best senior golfers from across the state to Westwood for the 84th playing of the Texas Senior Amateur,” said Ricky Lyons, Westwood Golf Club’s General Manager. “The newly renovated course will be in great condition thanks to our superintendent Wesley Curtis and his crew, and we believe the strategic design will challenge every facet of a player’s game and identify a worthy champion.”

The Texas Senior Amateur is open to male amateurs who belong to a TGA Member Club, have a World Handicap System Index of 6.4 or less, will have reached the age of 55 on or before the tournament start date and are current Texas residents.

The format for the championship is 54 holes of individual stroke play. The starting field of 144 golfers play two rounds on Sept. 24-25. At the completion of the 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 54 players and ties for the final round.

At the 2020 championship, held at Ridgewood Country Club in Waco, host club member John Derrick posted a gutsy 2-over-par 72 on the last day in difficult scoring conditions to win the title in front of a large hometown crowd. His 7-over 217 total was good for a one-stroke victory over Mike Lohner of Southlake.

This year’s Texas Senior Amateur will once again feature an impressive lineup of accomplished veteran competitors. In addition to Derrick, who looks to be the first to win back-to-back titles in over 20 years, seven other past champions will be on site at Westwood Golf Club. They are Gary Durbin of Houston (who won in 2019), Lewis Stephenson of Mansfield (2016, ’18), Mike Booker of The Woodlands (2015), Ron Kilby of McAllen (2011, ’14), Mike Peck of Irving (2013), Chuck Palmer of Dallas (2012) and John Grace of Fort Worth (2010).

Lohner, the 2020 runner-up and reigning Senior Player of the Year, heads a roster of other notable players who will be vying for the title which includes 2021 North Regional Senior Amateur champion Dave Davis of Saginaw, 2021 South Regional Senior Amateur champion David Ortego of Spring and 2017, ’19 Senior Player of Year John Pierce of San Antonio.

Live scoring updates and daily recaps, as well as tee-times and pairings, will be available at txga.org once the action gets underway from Westwood.